George Pearl Victorious at San Fairy Ann

Southend Wheeler, George Pearl (17) completed his pre-season training last weekend in Belgium with other youth and junior teamates representing the British Cycling Eastern Region Development team. Southend Wheeler George Pearl (17) rode the opening race of his season. Having settled into the pace of the race Pearl and fellow Eastern region rider and Matt Cook (17) riding for API Metrow, tested themselves and the field by opening up a gap on the bunch. Having stayed away for a few laps and increasing their lead they reached the point where they had to chose between going back into the bunch and biding their time or pushing on alone and running the risk of expending all their energy too soon and getting caught and over taken. The two, two of the youngest in the race, bravely made the commitment to push on. A few laps further and Cook knew it was not going to be his day and drifted back into the chasing bunch. Hogg Hill is renowned as the toughest circuit in the country and on such a windy day, particularly hard for a lone rider. Pearl with still 12 laps (over 30minutes) remaining decided to totally commit to win or bust and drove himself on alone stretching his lead out to 37 seconds at one point. Towards the end of the penultimate lap two riders who had been bridging the gap from the main bunch for several laps eventually caught him. Pearl kept his head and tucked in behind them for a further lap and 300 meters from the finish line dug deep and launched one last perfectly timed attack only one of the riders was able to respond but too late as Pearl crossed the line for his first victory by 3 seconds and a full 37 seconds ahead of the main field. Friend and Eastern Region rider Matt Cook had recomposed himself and charged away from his nearest rival to take 6th place.

More details of George's time in Belgium can be read here. (Thurrock Gazzette)